Gears of War: E-Day is set to launch its Early Access version on October 1, with a full release on October 7. However, just one week before launch, Xbox laid off the game's Narrative Director, Juan Vaca. This sudden layoff is part of Xbox's recent restructuring plan, which eliminated a total of 268 positions.
Juan Vaca confirmed the news on LinkedIn, stating that he was among the 600 employees laid off by Microsoft. He is now seeking new opportunities as a Narrative Director in the gaming, film, and television media industries.
According to LinkedIn, Juan Vaca worked at The Coalition, the developer of Gears of War, for four years and three months.
The layoffs occurred just as the game was about to enter Early Access, sparking discussions among players and other developers about the project's future and the studio's plans.
These adjustments are also part of Xbox's recent restructuring, which saw 268 positions eliminated. Following the restructuring, Activision will oversee World’s Edge and Rare, Obsidian Entertainment has been placed under Bethesda, and Playground Games has been merged with Turn 10.
Gears of War: E-Day has already gone gold, meaning major development work is complete. As currently scheduled, the game's Early Access is about to go live, but it remains unclear whether this personnel change will affect future content.